The world just lost a truly unique man.
Alistair Malcolm Orr McEachern was larger than life. From the time he entered this world to the time he left it, he touched so many lives in so many different ways.From a young age he worked on the family farm in Eldon Station, Kawartha Lakes, attended a one room school where his mother was the teacher, entered high school at the age of 12 ( and then failed a few times!) witched and dug wells, worked at the Brewers Retail, finished school, went to teachers college and then taught at a one room school house of his own. By this time he had married his wife, Diane and was teaching in Lindsay. They had a daughter Donna Lee, and then moved to Caledonia and had Heather and Mark. He taught at Cayuga Secondary School for 25 years and finished there as vice principal before he moved on to Jarvis Elementary where he was principal. Alistair was that truly special teacher who helped so many students to become successful. He never went anywhere where he wasn’t recognized and revered. “Hello Mr. McEachern, do you remember me?” was heard over and over, wherever he went. And he never tired of it. He gave endlessly to his community and never turned down an opportunity to help improve it. He was the first Captain of the Grand River Dinner Cruises, served on town council, was a fair board member, church custodian and absolutely enjoyed his Saturday mornings working with the men on the Special Projects Committee of Caledonia. He loved poetry (The Cremation of Sam McGee), crossword puzzles, dancing with Diane, coaching and managing baseball, cooking Chinese food for family and friends, and could put on amazing roast beef and turkey dinners for a crowd. He prided himself on being an all around handyman. Some of those projects may not have turned out quite as well as he thought, however, no one dared tell him! But he gave it his all! Later on in life, a cottage was purchased back where he began and it was such a source of pride. But nothing came close to the pride he had for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is hard for those left behind to comprehend a life without this legend, but we will go on and try to make him proud. Diane left us in 2019, Donna Lee in 2020 and he greatly missed them. Left to carry on are Heather and Ken and their family, Tyler, Gillian and Jett, Mark, Meagan and Quinn and Holly, Austin and Brody, Mark and Sara, and their family, Olivia and Avery, Ava, Sofie and Mac and son in-law Bill.
To quote Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”. He made us laugh a lot and had the best giggle.
Goodbye Big Al. Try to behave up there!
Arrangements entrusted to Miller Funeral Chapel, Caledonia, On. (905-765-2712). In memory of Alistair, donations to the Donna McEachern Memorial Bursary or Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES (Cayuga Special Needs Program) would be appreciated by his family. Friends are invited to send condolences and sign the Book of Memories at www.millerfuneralchapel.ca
